Description
A quick and healthy recipe for crispy and juicy air fryer shrimp, coated with parmesan and whole wheat breadcrumbs, flavored with lemon and herbs, perfect for a crowd-pleasing appetizer or main course.
Ingredients
Scale
Shrimp and Marinade
- 1 pound jumbo (21 to 25-count) shrimp (peeled and deveined, tails on or off)
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 small lemon (zest and juice, plus additional for serving)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
Breading
- 1/3 cup Italian seasoned whole wheat breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 large egg
For Cooking and Serving
- Nonstick cooking spray
- Chopped fresh parsley or chives (optional for serving)
Instructions
- Marinate the Shrimp: Pat the shrimp dry and place them in a large bowl. Add olive oil, lemon zest and juice, garlic powder, dried parsley, oregano, salt, and black pepper. Toss to coat evenly, cover, and let marinate at room temperature for 15 minutes or refrigerate for 1 hour.
- Prepare the Breading Station: In a shallow baking dish, combine the Italian seasoned breadcrumbs and grated Parmesan. In a separate dish, beat the egg. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper for the coated shrimp placement.
- Bread the Shrimp: Remove shrimp from marinade, shaking off excess liquid. Dip each shrimp into the beaten egg, then dredge in the breadcrumb mixture coating both sides. Place coated shrimp on the prepared baking sheet.
- Preheat and Prepare Air Fryer: Preheat the air fryer to 390 degrees F. Spray the basket with nonstick cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Cook the Shrimp: Arrange shrimp in a single layer in the air fryer basket, avoiding overlap. Spray the tops of the shrimp lightly with nonstick spray. Air fry for 2 minutes, then carefully flip each shrimp with tongs and cook for an additional 2 minutes until golden brown and opaque.
- Repeat and Serve: Cook remaining shrimp in batches if necessary. Optionally keep cooked shrimp warm in a 200 degrees F oven while finishing the rest. Serve immediately, garnished with chopped parsley or chives and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice.
Notes
- For the best texture, do not let the shrimp marinate too long to avoid being broken down by citrus.
- Use jumbo shrimp for easier handling and a meatier bite.
- You can substitute breadcrumbs with gluten-free alternatives to make this gluten-free.
- Air frying ensures a healthier option with less oil compared to traditional frying.
- Keep batches small in the air fryer basket to allow proper air circulation and even cooking.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 160 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 250 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 146 mg
